Troy is 0-3 for the first time in a decade and continues to deal with uncertainty at the sport’s most-important position.
The Trojans have seen their starting quarterback leave a game due to injury two weeks in a row, first Goose Crowder with a shoulder injury vs. Memphis and then Matthew Caldwell due to cramps against Iowa. Tucker Kilcrease, whom head coach Gerald Parker identifies as quarterback “2B,” finished up the game against the Hawkeyes.
Crowder will be a game-time decision for Saturday’s home game vs. Florida A&M (2-1), set for 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Parker said he won’t know which direction he will go at quarterback until he knows more about Crowder.
“I think the health of Goose, obviously, is the biggest deciding factor of that,” Parker said Monday. “And then, of course, with our 2A and 2B guys that saw snaps in that (Iowa) game, I think we would continue to evaluate them as we go throughout the week. I think that’s something that we’ll always do.”
Parker and Kilcrease both had their moments against Iowa, which pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 38-21 after Troy 17-14 led at halftime. Caldwell completed 14 of 21 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown, but also threw an interception that was returned for a score (that was the play where he cramped up and did not return to the game).
Kilcrease immediately threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Devonte Ross to pull the Trojans within 24-21 late in the third quarter, but accomplished little after that. He finished 2-for-5 for 73 yards and was sacked twice in a three-play span toward the end of the game.
“I was proud of him,” Parker said of Kilcrease. “To his credit and Caldwell’s, I think both have entered big game atmospheres and really not shown anything but poise and being prepared, which is a testament to them. And their preparation, and also (offensive coordinator Sean) Reagan and what they do to prepare each of our quarterbacks.”
Troy has also started three centers in three games this season, with first-teamer Eli Russ absent from the last two games due to an undisclosed injury. Like Caldwell, he’s a “game-time decision” for Saturday, Parker said.
Regular right tackle Boaz Stanley moved to center to start the Memphis game, later to be replaced by sophomore Tyler Cappi. The former walk-on from Priceville went the distance vs Iowa.
“If you’d have told me, after three games, we’d play three centers and three quarterbacks, I’d have probably said that’s a stretch,” Parker said. “Which is why you better prepare everybody. So that’s where we are.”
Troy did find a go-to offensive weapon in Ross, who caught five passes for 142 yards, with touchdowns of 63 and 62 yards. On both scoring receptions, he got behind the Iowa defense and used to his sprinter’s speed to easily reach the end zone.
Ross also had a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown, and totaled 219 all-purpose yards. He was named Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.
“It felt great,” Ross said. “It was kind of a shock to me when I scored. A lot of my teammates were wondering talking about my celebration, why I didn’t celebrate. I just kept telling them how it was just surreal to me. It was a great feeling, though, helping my team out. We didn’t get it done, but I’m just proud of this team for sure.”
Troy continues to look for answers on defense, which features newcomers or first-time starters at nearly every position. Only senior defensive tackle Luis Medina has double-digit career starts with the Trojans, having reached 10 last week vs. Iowa.
Troy has been especially vulnerable in the run game, having allowed at least 200 yards on the ground to all three opponents. Iowa battered the Trojans for 284 rushing yards on 45 carries, an average of 6.3 yards per attempt.
“It’s just going back to our techniques and being sound as a defense in our gaps,” linebacker Jordan Stringer said. “We go back and watch the tape. It’s nothing that they’re doing that is explosive, it’s just us getting out of our gaps, securing lanes. So, it’s small things that we can correct that we’re going to correct. And we’ve just got to keep practicing day-in, day-out.”
FAMU is playing an FBS school for the second straight week after losing 56-7 to Miami last Saturday. The Rattlers began the season with back-to-back wins over fellow HBCU opponents Norfolk State and South Carolina State.
Troy is 21-1 vs. FCS opponents since moving up to the FBS level in 2001, with the lone loss coming 38-35 to Abilene Christian 10 years ago. That was also the last time the Trojans got off to an 0-3 start, on their way to a 3-9 finish in the final season under Hall-of-Fame coach Larry Blakeney.
“I think we have taken steps of improving each and every week,” Parker said. “The reason those steps have been taken is because we’re practicing better. In order to play better, you’ve got to practice better. So those processes are improving. Unfortunately, that has not shown as a result on the scoreboard just yet. But we’re getting closer to that.”
Saturday’s Troy-FAMU game will stream live via ESPN+.
